PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach Economic Development Department (Department) is now accepting applications for the third cohort of the Long Beach Public Service Corps Program (LBPSC). The program offers paid internships that provide young people with practical work experience in various roles across City departments. Applications are available online through Monday, June 30, 2025.

“The Long Beach Public Service Corps opens doors for the next generation of local leaders,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “By embedding college seniors and recent graduates in City Hall, we’re giving them real-world experience and a pathway into public service. With hiring preferences for program alumni through the Long Beach Jobs Promise, we’re building a pipeline of homegrown talent ready to serve their community and bring fresh ideas to local government.”

Facilitated by the Department’s Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network (LBWIN) Youth Career Services Center, formerly known as Future LB, the LBPSC provides local college students and recent graduates ages 18 to 30 with hands-on experience working in City government and exploring careers in public service. The program is intended to foster economic inclusion and expand opportunities for residents, including young people, to develop successful career paths. Participants will engage in a series of professional development workshops designed to highlight important topics in public service, such as budgeting, community engagement, crisis management, sustainability, ethics and policy. Participants will be compensated $22 hourly for a maximum of 800 hours during the 2025 – 2026 academic year.

Priority will be given to senior-level students at California State University, Long Beach or California State University, Dominguez Hills, those completing a career technical education program at Long Beach City College, students residing in Long Beach, and those who face a barrier to employment. Additional information regarding eligibility and requirements is available on the LBPSC webpage.

“The Long Beach Public Service Corps provides youth with innovative and unique opportunities to break into the workforce and discover a future in public service,” said Economic Development Department Director Bo Martinez. “We are developing the next generation of talent in Long Beach, and we’re incredibly excited for the promising and talented young people that the third cohort is sure to bring.”

The program is funded by a $2.5 million grant from the California Volunteers, Office of the Governor #CaliforniansForAII Youth Jobs Corps initiative, which strives to bring together youth across the state to help address urgent challenges in California’s communities. This funding also supports other youth employment efforts coordinated by LBWIN, including public service internships and the Long Beach Urban Planning and Design Internship Program. The LBPSC is also supported by a one-time allocation of $300,000 that the Mayor and City Council approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget.

The LBPSC welcomed its first cohort in November 2023 with 50 students placed throughout various City departments as they engaged in a series of professional development workshops designed to highlight important topics in public service. The program later introduced its second cohort of 49 fellows in December 2024.

The program is a collaborative effort between the Department’s Workforce Development Bureau, the Long Beach Human Resources Department, and the City’s legislative offices. Department staff will oversee case management and payroll coordination for participants, as well as supportive wraparound services, including transportation assistance, clothing vouchers, rental assistance and utility payment assistance to ensure participants have the foundation and tools to complete the program successfully. Participants will also receive job counseling, employment placement and access to industry-recognized training to support their long-term career goals.

For additional information about the LBPSC, those interested may visit the Department’s website at longbeach.gov/psc or contact the LBWIN Youth Career Services Center at 562.570.4700.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. For more information about the Long Beach Economic Development Department, visit longbeach.gov/ed, follow on Facebook, X and Instagram. Stay up to date on business news by signing up for the City’s Business Brief.